FURNITURE & FURNISHINGS
As from 1st January 1997 all furniture in tenanted residential property must comply with the 1993 amendments to the Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1988 which extends the scope of the Consumer Protection Act 1987 (CPA). This covers the supplying (hiring or lending) of specified goods (upholstered furniture and certain furnishings) "in the course of business".

The regulations apply to:

• Arm chairs, three piece suites, sofas, sofa beds, futons and other convertible furniture.
• Beds, Bed bases and headboards, mattresses, divans and pillows.
• Nursery furniture
• Garden furniture which could be used indoors
• Loose, stretch and fitted covers for furniture, scatter cushions, seat pads and pillows. 

Items excluded from the regulations are:

• Antique furniture or furniture manufactured before 1950
• Bed clothes and duvets
• Loose mattress covers
• Pillowcases
• Sleeping bags
• Curtains
• Carpets   

Compliance

Furniture which complies carries a manufacturer's label which must be permanent and non-detachable.

• All upholstered items must have fire resistant filling material.
• All upholstered items must pass the "match resistance test" as prescribed.
• All upholstered items must also past the "cigarette test" as prescribed.
• Bed bases and mattresses are not required to bear a permanent label but compliance will be indicated if the item has a label stating that it meets BS7177   

Summary
If you let your residential property furnished you must ensure that certain types of furniture and furnishings provided meet the current safety regulations.

These regulations are enforced by local Trading Standards Officers. 

The reality is for most landlords these regulations are not an issue. This is because they will choose to let their property unfurnished or part furnished and therefore without any soft furnishings other than perhaps curtains which are exempted from the regulations.  Even if you do choose to furnish your property; given that it is an offence to sell non-complying items as long as you buy new then you should be fine. 

Where you have to be careful is using second hand furniture.  Here you must ensure that the correct labels are in place identifying the fact that the materials are fire resistant. Failure to do this will open you up to prosecution and also put your tenants in a potentially hazardous position.

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